Railroad-signal lock



June 10, 1930. x, LATTY 1,763,530

RAILROAD SIGNAL LOCK Filed March 13, 1950 I lt A B 12 a i 4 4 f 4 Ill/A "w: m

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xxim- Patented June 10, 1930 UNHTEB orrics XA'VIER- LATTY, OF PARIS, FRANCE RAILROAD-SIGNAL LOCK Application filed March 13, 1930, Serial No. 435,608, and" in France January 11, 1930.

The question of the action of the wind on the disks of railroad signals is one that has for a long time preoccupied railroad officials whose responsibility is to provide for the security of trains travelling on railroads. As is well known, it frequently happens that a hurricane or strong wind modifies the angular position of the disk of a signal with respect to its supporting post whereby for example the disk appears to be open while it ought to be closed i. e. at danger, the usual balance weight being unable to overcome the effect of the wind and to bring back the disk into its correct position. The danger of such disturbances need not be further emphasized.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a railroad signal lock adapted to obviate the aforesaid disadvantages and danger by entirely preventing any undue motion of the disk of the signal even under the action of a hurricane.

A further object of the invention is to provide a railroad signal lock adapted to render the operation of signals easier and more gentle while protecting them from the effects of hurricanes or similar causes of disturbance.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a railroad signal lock of simple structure, great readiness of assembly on existing railroad signals and cheapness of manufacture and upkeep.

l/Vith these and such other objects in view as will incidentally appear hereafter, the invention comprises the novel combination and operation of parts that will now be described, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein is shown some t0 what diagrammatically a practical embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the railroad signal lock, assuming the signal standards to be cut.

Figure 2 is a corresponding front elevational view.

Figure 3 is a corresponding crosssecti0nal view.

Like references designate like throughout the several views.

parts The spindle l carries a sprocket wheel 2 and a worm 3. The latter meshes with a worm sector 4 formed integral with the post P carrying the disk D or'secured thereto in any approved way. The spindle l is journalled in brackets 5 secured to the signal standards A by stay bolts B. A sprocket chain 6 engages the sprocket wheel 2 which is advantageously fitted with cheeks 2 for preventing any undue disengagement of said chain. One end of the chain 6 is attached to the usual balance weight W while its opposite end is attached to the ordinary transmission cable 7 leading from the usual looking lever (not shown) which may be located at a certain distance for example in a signal cabin or tower. A double-angled guard 8 bolted or otherwise secured to the bracket 5 adjacent the sprocket wheel 2 is also provided for preventing any undue disengagement of the chain 6 from said wheel.

The operation or the railroad signal look as above-described is as follows:

Instead of transmitting its traction to a crank as in known arrangements, the cable 7 pulls the sprocket chain 6 which in turn rotates the sprocket wheel 2 whereby the spindle 1, the worm 3, the worm sector 4, the post P and the disk D are rotated.

It will be appreciated that the gear or transmission thus provided is entirely irreversible inasmuch as any accidental or undue rotating stress which may be exerted on the post P can never rotate the worm 3 backward. Thus a hurricane acting on the disk D can never overcome the resistance of the worm 3 whereby the disk can not pivot unduly about its geometrical axis.

Furthermore, the transmission of the stress exerted on the operating cable 7 is, as it were, regularized by the worm gear whereby the post P and disk D always pivot gently to occupy their closed or open position depending on what the case may be irrespective of any jerk that may be under-' gone by the cable 7 for example due to sturdy actuation by some signalmen. The result of this is that the usual lanterns (not shown) carried behind the disk D for night service no longer risk to be broken by said jerks.

It will be seen that the structure and operation of such a railroad signal lock is most simple whereby it can be easily and cheaply fitted on existing signals.

Various" modifications might be introduced without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the subjoined claims. Thus for instance the sprocket wheel 2 and sprocket chain 6' might'be 'replaced by a pulley and any flexiblejtransmission member such as a belt or cable respectively.

What I claim is:

1. In combination with arailroad signal comprising a disk carried at the top of a rotatable post supported between a pair of brackets, a' Worm sector on a portion of the disk post,- a worm meshing with the worm sectorjan d carried by a'transverse spindle, a revoluble member fixedly carried by the spindle, and a fiexiblemember engaging said revoluble member and carrying at one end the usual balance weight of the signal while being connected at its opposite end to thetransmission member attached to the usual signal operating lever.

2. In combination with a railroad signal comprising a disk carried at the top of a rotatable post supported between a pair of brackets, a worm sector on a portion of the diskpost, a worm meshing with the worm sector andcarriedby a transverse spindle, a sprocket wheel fixedly carried by the spindle, and a sprocket chain engaging said Wheel and carrying at one end the usual balance weight'of the signal while being connected at its opposite end to the cable attached to the usual signal operating lever.

3; In combination with a' railroad signal com rising a disk carried at the top of a rotatagle post supported between a pair of brackets; 'a'worm' sector on a portion of the disk'post' a' worm meshing with the worm sector and'carried by a transverse spindle journalled in the brackets, a sprocket wheel fitted with cheeks and fixedly carried by the spindle, 'a guard secured to the adjacent bracket and overhanging the wheel at a slight distance therefrom, and a sprocket chain-engaging said wheel and carrying at one end the usual 'b alanceweight'of the signal while being connected at its opposite end to the cable attached to the usual signal operating lever.

In testimony whereof Ijaffix my signature.

XAVIER LATTY. 

